A biblical theme park is nearing completion in Kentucky, USA, featuring a giant wooden structure based on Noah’s Ark.

The building, described as an “tremendous ship”, was developed by Indiana company Troyer Group. It will type component of Ark Encounter – a theme park aiming to illustrate the story of the legendary great flood, in which God instructs Noah to build an ark to conserve his family and a pair of each and every of the world’s animal species.

Artist’s impression displaying overview of Ark Experience

Ark Encounter will be found near sister attraction the Creation Museum in the city of Williamstown. The park and museum are run by Solutions in Genesis, a Christian fundamentalist organisation that raised \$24.five million (£16 million) of the project’s \$86 million (£56.five million) development value.

The wooden developing will be 155 metres long and 24 metres tall, providing it a footprint equal to around two football pitches. The organisation claims it will be the biggest timber-frame framework in the USA when it completes in July 2016, despite the fact that development pictures display a concrete inner shell.

Rendering displaying the ark below construction

“The ark is based mostly on the dimensions recorded in the Bible and was designed in accordance with sound, established nautical engineering practices of the biblical era,” stated the organisation.

“By way of the building of a substantial full-scale Noah’s Ark, the Ark Encounter will current America and other nations with a reminder of the Bible’s account of the ark and the faithfulness of Noah.”

The ark is becoming constructed by Amish carpenters using modern day tactics and tools. Much of the wood being used in the building came from areas damaged by plagues of beetles or from sustainable forests, in accordance to the organisation.

Answers in Genesis says the ark will the greatest timber constructing in the USA

It will attribute a curved bow, stern and sides and contain three floors of exhibits which includes model dinosaurs.

“Scripture does not discuss the shape of Noah’s Ark beyond the overall proportions of length, breadth, and depth,” explained a statement from Solutions in Genesis.

Up to 900 staff are anticipated to be employed in the huge 324-hectare-park, which will also feature themed eating places and a petting zoo named Noah’s Animals.

Building of the ark’s concrete shell

A “Tower of Babel”, stroll-by way of aviary and a replica of a very first-century Middle Eastern village will also join the ark in later phases of the park’s improvement.

Ark Experience is expected to open in July 2016 and to receive 1 to two million visitors in its initial yr. The park will remain open for forty days and forty nights in the course of the summer – a reference to the quantity of days rain is said to have fallen throughout the biblical flood.

A diagram of the ark’s dimensions as described in Genesis 6:15 – click for larger picture Ground floor plan – click for more substantial image Very first floor strategy – click for larger picture Second floor program – click for more substantial picture